Arctic Explorer

Michelle Valberg

August 15August 26, 2016 aboard the Ocean Endeavour

Arctic Explorer
August 15August 26, 2016 aboard the Ocean Endeavour

Rob Poulton

INTRODUCTION
This adventure begins at the entrance to the Northwest Passage.
After departing Quaasuittuq (Resolute), well visit the final
resting place of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition at Beechey
Island and search for polar bears and walrus in far north Baffin
Island. At Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), our hosts will welcome us
with throat-singing and Inuit games, before we explore Baffins
mighty fjords. Well seek bowhead whales in Niqinganiq (Isabella

Bay)the worlds first Inuit-initiated whale sanctuary. Crossing

Davis Strait, well be met by Greenlands stirring icescape. There,
well zip among the freshly calved bergs off Ilulissat in our
Zodiacs, marvel at Uummannaqs heart-shaped mountain, and
hike around Itilleq Fjord. Spectacular Sondre Stromfjord makes a
glorious finale to our trip.

HIGHLIGHTS
Call at Niqinganiq (Isabella Bay) a bowhead whale sanctuary,
the worlds first Inuit-managed reserve of its kind
Marvel at the Ilulissat ice fjord, where 90% of the north
Atlantics icebergs are born

Visit the site of the famous Greenlandic mummies discovery

outside Uummannaq
Hike gorgeous Arctic landscapes
See the final resting place of the Franklin Expedition

PROPOSED ITINERARY
Day 1: Quaasuittuq (Resolute), NU
Day 2: Beechey Island
Day 3: Ikpiarjuk (Arctic Bay)
Day 4: Devon Island
Day 5: Mittimatilik (Pond Inlet)
Day 6: Northeast Baffin Fjords
Day 7: Niqinganiq (Isabella Bay)
Day 8: Karrat Fjord
Day 9: Uummannaq Fjord
Day 10: Ilulissat
Day 11: Itilleq Fjord
Day 12: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Quaasuittuq (Resolute), NU
Resolute Bay is also known as Qausuittuq
place with no dawn. Resolute Bay is truly
the land of the midnight sun as the sun shines
twenty-four hours a day from about April 29
to August 13 each year. From archaeological
excavations, it has been concluded that there
have been at least three stages of occupation
at Resolute Bay. The Dorset culture was
the first, followed by an early phase of the
Thule culture, in which the artefacts found
show strong Alaskan affinities. These were
probably both short periods of occupation,
possibly by only a few families. A late or
developed phase of the Thule culture was of
longer duration, with a considerably larger
population. Resolute Bay was named after
hms Resolute, one of the ships in the Franklin
search expedition commanded by Captain
H.T. Austin. An airfield was established at
Resolute Bay in 1947 during construction

of a joint US-Canadian weather station.

In 1953, Inuit from Inukjuak, Qubec and
Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet) were relocated to
Resolute by the Canadian government.
Day 2: Beechey Island
In 1845 Sir John Franklin took his expedition
of 129 men in two ships into the Wellington
Channel. Not a soul returned from the fateful
expedition. It was two years before search
parties were launched. Aside from the bodies of
three souls buried here, only relics were found
as clues to the disappearance. The three graves
found at Beechey island left no indication as to
the fate of the rest of the British partyuntil
recently. In the autumn of 2014, Canadian
archaeologists discovered remnants of the hms
Erebus in the frozen waters of the Northwest
Passage, a discovery that has re-galvanized
interest in the fabled region.

Day 3: Ikpiarjuk (Arctic Bay)

Ikpiarjuk, on the northern part of the Borden
Peninsula on Baffin Island, has been occupied
in some capacity for over 5,000 years. The bay
itself is surrounded by high hills on all sides;
the Inuktitut name translates to the pocket
and reflects this. To the southeast, the flattopped King George V Mountain dominates
the skyline.
Day 4: Devon Island
Devon Island is the largest uninhabited
island on earth and comprises over fifty
thousand square kilometres. It was first
sighted by Europeans in 1616, though it
was not settled for another three hundred
years with the arrival of the Hudsons Bay
Company. Because of its high elevation and
extreme climate, Devon Island supports only
a meager population of musk ox as well as
some small birds and mammals. Devon

Island is also known for the presence of the

Haughton impact crater, created some 39
million years ago by a two-kilometre wide
meteorite.
Day 5: Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet)
Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet) is a bustling
Arctic community surrounded by one of
the most beautiful landscapes in the eastern
Arctic. We will have a chance to explore
the town, including its excellent library
and other facilities, and meet many local
citizens who will gladly share their culture.
We will be treated to a cultural presentation
at the Community Hallarts and crafts may
be available here. Mittimatalik is a famous
region for viewing marine mammals,
including the elusive narwhal.
Day 6: Northeast Baffin Fjords
Today will be an expedition day in the truest
sense as we navigate the multitudinous fjords
of northeast Baffin Island. Baffins fjords are
striking, their extreme depth and narrow
width affording stunning perspectives on
geological processes. The Ocean Endeavour
is the perfect vessel for exploring these
hidden treasures of the north, as her
manoeuvrability allows her to access regions
that would be impassable to larger vessels.
We will be on alert for changing weather
and ice conditions and use our judgement
as to which route along the coast will be the
most spectacular. As ever, our elite team
will be on deck for the duration, searching
for wildlife and contextualizing the mighty
landscape through which we travel.
Day 7: Niqinganiq (Isabella Bay)
Niqinganiq is a 336,000-hectare marine

region on Baffin Island that is a crucial

feeding area for threatened bowhead whale.
This is also the worlds first Inuit-initiated
and maintained marine mammal sanctuary.
The area includes two deep offshore troughs
rich in copepods, a main food source for the
bowhead whale.
Day 8: Karrat Fjord
Today we will cruise one of Greenlands
most spectacular fjords, known for plentiful
marine life and inspiring landscapes. Seals
use the long leads created by high winds in
this region to hunt the rich waters of the
fjord. The cliffs within the fjord should give
us good opportunities to see colonies of
dovekies. Time spent on deck today should
result in some good wildlife sightings,
not to mention unbeatable photographic
opportunities of the majestic rock faces.
Day 9: Uummannaq Fjord
Uummannaq Fjord in northwest Greenland
is the countrys second-largest system of
fjords. It empties into Baffin Bay and is
characterized by its developed coastline
and various bays, islands, and peninsulas.
It is considered to be the sunniest spot
in Greenland, and favourable weather
coupled with proximity to coastal travel
routeshave made the fjord system a
popular destination for Greenlandic Inuit.
It has been settled and re-settled continually
for the last 4,500 years.
Archaeological excavations at Qilakitsoq,
due south of Uummannaq Island, revealed
the existence of the ancient Saqqaq culture.
Recent evidence indicates that these groups
settled Greenland between 2500 BC and

800 BC, and further, that they migrated

from Sibera to arrive in Uummaanaq. It is
thought that this migration gave rise to both
modern Native Americans and the Inuit.
Midway up the west coast of Greenland along
the fiord of the same name is Uummannaq.
Proud home of the worlds most northerly
ferry terminal, Uummunnaq also boasts a
canning factory and a marble quarry, and is
an important hunting and fishing base for
the region. The town is dominated by its
namesakeUummunnaq Mountain1,170
metres in height and nearly 600 kilometres
north of the Arctic Circle.
Day 10: Ilulissat
Venturing 250 kilometres north of the
Arctic Circle we find the stunning coastal
community of Ilulissat. Ilulissat translates
literally into iceberg, and there couldnt be
a more fitting name. Our visit will include
time in the colourful town and a chance to
hike out to an elevated viewpoint where we
can observe the great fields of ice.
We will also cruise in our fleet of Zodiacs in
the unesco World Heritage Site of the Ilulissat
Ice fjord. The Ice fjord is where we find the
Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, one of the most active
and fastest moving in the world at nineteen
metres per day and calving more than thirtyfive square kilometers of ice annually.
Day 11: Itilleq Fjord
The west Greenland coastline is a rich
mixture of fishing communities, tiny islands
and complex coastal waterways. We will be
making an expedition stop here to explore
the Greenlandic landscape.

Day 12: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

We will make our journey down spectacular
Sondre Stromfjord, and early risers will have
a chance to experience its beauty. Sondre
Stromfjord is one of the longest fjords in the
world and boasts 168 kilometres of superb
scenery! Kangerlussuaq, the town at its eastern
mouth, means the big fjord. Although the
fjord crosses the Arctic Circle, like the oceans
here, it does not freeze. Locals can thank
ocean currents for this, making this part of

Greenland a centre for whaling and fishing

all year. The United States built an air base at
Kangerlussuaq in wwii due to the relatively
mild weather and strategic proximity to
Europe. Although the military base closed
in 1992, the strip is now Greenlands main
international and domestic airport.

the interior and the worlds largest ice cap can

be reached in less than an hour. The landscape
features enormous glacier formations, which
have ploughed deep into the dramatic tundra.
On the plain between the fjord and the inland
ice you may find Greenlands biggest herds of
musk ox, reindeer, arctic foxes as well as the
highest concentration of peregrine falcons
in Greenland and more than 250 species of
plants.

The area is distinguished by fantastic nature

and rich biodiversity. There is nowhere else in
Greenland where it is so easy to go so far into

In remote Arctic waterways, weather, sea, and ice conditions will determine daily progress. Actual route may differ from the one proposed.

CHARTER FLIGHTS
Outbound:
Ottawa, ON to Resolute, NU
August 15, 2016
Early morning departure
$928 usd per person inclusive of all taxes
and fees

2016 Berth Prices

Date 2016
Arctic
Explorer
Discovery Fee

Aug 15Aug 26

Days
12

Round trip:
$2,195 usd per person inclusive of taxes
and fees
Pre and post hotel nights in Ottawa and
Toronto are available upon request.
Overnight accommodation in Ottawa
recommended.

Inbound:
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Toronto, ON
August 26, 2016
Early evening arrival
$1,267 usd per person inclusive of all
taxes and fees

Cabin Class Categories

Charter
flights 1
$2,195

10

$5,795

$6,795

$8,195

$9,495

$10,695

$11,895

$13,095

$14,395

$15,695

$16,995

$250

$250

$250

$250

$250

$250

$250

$250

$250

$250

ALL PRICES ARE IN US DOLLARS AND ARE CASH/CHEQUE DISCOUNTED. Additional costs associated with payments made by credit card.

DISCOVERY FEE
Each area we visit has rich cultural experiences and wild treasures to
offer. As guests, we have made a point to source and support local
projects in the areas through which we travel. A contribution from each
passenger, billed separately as the Discovery Fee, represents a portion of
the money we donate to ensure the longevity and success of educational,
environmental and cultural initiatives in these regions. Our Discovery Fee
is $250 USD per person for all Shipboard Expeditions.
PRICING
Rates are in U.S. dollars, per person, per voyage based on double
occupancy except for C1 and C2, which are quad and triple cabins,
respectively. Discovery Fee and charter/commercial airfare are not
included in the berth price. Single occupancy cabins are available in
select cabins on Ocean Endeavour and National Geographic Islander.
Please call for availability.
CURRENCY
Although we are a Canadian company, most of our operating costs are
paid in U.S. dollars. For this reason all tour prices are in U.S. dollars. We
will accept Canadian dollars at the current exchange rate, please call for
details. We are not responsible for bank exchange rates on credit card
transactions.

TOUR FARES
Published prices are based on exchange rates and tariffs in effect at the
time of printing (February 2015) and are subject to change without notice.
Once the deposit has been received changes will not be made to the
base price. No refund will be given if costs are reduced. The company
reserves the right to amend all or part of any tour price for any reason
including, without limitation: increased fuel costs, airfares, airport charges
or increases in ground operator service fees. If the price increase is
more than 7% (except increases resulting from an increase in retail sales
tax or Federal Goods and Services Tax or Harmonized Sales Tax) the
customer has the right to cancel the contract and obtain a full refund. Tour
fees quoted are based on group participation. Prices are cash/cheque
discounted, and in U.S. dollars.
2016 CREDIT CARD PRICING IS AS FOLLOWS IN USD:
Arctic Explorer: C1 $6,027 C2 $7,067 C3 $8,523 C4 $9,875 C5
$11,123 C6 $12,371 C7 $13,619 C8 $14,971 C9 $16,323 C10 $17,675

PAYMENT POLICY
A deposit of $1,000 usd per person is required upon booking to confirm
participation. The balance of the payment is required 120 days prior
to your departure date. The Company reserves the right to cancel
reservations if payments are not received in time. Prices are cash/cheque
discounted, if you wish to pay by credit card please refer to our credit
card pricing. Please make cheques payable to: ADVENTURE CANADA.
Please review our Cancellation & Refund Policy for a full outline of our
cancellation terms.
As a registered Ontario company, we are licensed to sell travel packages
through the Travel Industry Council of Ontario. We are required to keep
all customer deposits in Client Trust Accounts and may only use the
funds once the trip has begun or to make a deposit to an operatoron
behalf of the client. Our Client Trust Accounts are reviewed by a CPA on
an annual basis and regularly inspected by TICO auditors.

WE LOVE
BAGPIPERS!
WE ARE FAMILY
FRIENDLY
Family is important!
To promote multi-generational
travel, we are offering a 30%
discount to travellers under 30
years of age. Please call us for
details!

SAILING SOLO?
Single travellers not requiring private accommodation on shipboard
programs can be matched with another single traveller at no extra
charge. Single-occupancy cabins are also available at 1.5 times the
regular cost. Please call us for pricing & availability.
Mike Beedell

If you can play the

bagpipes, bring them
along and ask
about our
bagpipers rebate!